Wednesday August 15, 2018 / August 2, 2018

12th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)

Translation of the relics (428) of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (428) and Translation of the relics (415) of the Righteous Nicodemus, Gamaliel, and Abibus.
Blessed Basil of Moscow, fool-for-Christ (1552).
New Martyr Athanasius (1918).
New Hieromartyr Platon (1937).
Blessed Basil of Kuben Lake (1472).
Hieromartyr Stephen, pope of Rome (257).
Achair Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (21 c.).
St. Marco of Belavinsk (Vologda) (1492).
St. Friardus of Vindumitta (573) (Gaul).
Translation of the relics of Martyrs Maximus (286), Dada, and Quinctilian at Dorostolum in Moesia (Greek).
New Martyr Theodore of the Dardanelles (1690) (Greek).
Martyr Phocas (Greek).

The Scripture Readings

2 Corinthians 6:11-16
Mark 1:23-28
Galatians 5:22-6:2 Blessed Basil
Matthew 11:27-30 Blessed Basil
Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-5, 47-60 Protomartyr
Matthew 21:33-42 Protomartyr

Troparia

The Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, Troparion, in Tone IV —
For the sufferings which thou didst endure for Christ God,/ thy head, hath been crowned with a royal diadem, O Stephen,/ first among them that have suffered;/ for, having denounced the insanity of the Jews,/ thou didst behold thy Savior/ at the right hand of the Father.// Him do thou therefore entreat in behalf of our souls.

Kontakion, in Tone VI —
Thou wast the first to be sown on the earth by the heavenly Husbandman,/ O most laudable Stephen,/ and thou wast the first on earth to shed thy blood for Christ, O blessed one;/ first hast thou been to be crowned with the wreath of victory in the heavens,/ O first among athletes,// crown-bearer, who wast first among martyrs.